The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-12-29

the west that my daughter Sally IS about to
marry will be there. And that great bird !
want you to kill, clean and dress in your
very best style.'
"I'l do it, Deacon"
"Now, mind! I'm trusting you as no maj
else would. I understand that some OF
those goddess fellows Of the village are 60
ing to have a t~urkey-rafae at the tavern to.
night. One of the wretches had the impu.
dence to come here this morning and offer
me five dollars for that turkey, just as he is.
I told him I wouldn't take his weight in gold
for him, for that purpose. So you look
sharp; they're none too good to shoot him.
Now, Job, go ahead. Get boiling water and
knives, and any thing else you need, from
the kitchen. The Ratchet is behind the
door. Work fast, and be just as faithful
and careful as though the turkey was your
own"
The brief December day was declining.
1t was almost sunset when Job Harkins,
with his preparations all complete, and his
materials about him, bound the legs of the
victim, placed his neck over a log, and with
one swinging blow Of a sharp axe, decapi.
tated him. .a..
"Bravo, Job!-done like an old cavalry.
man! Was that the way you fellows used
your sabers?"
Job looked at the man who had just eau.
tiously climbed the rear fence of the dear
cons premises. He had, in fact, been hid
den behind it for the last fifteen minutes
o~verhearing the whole conversation.
Don't you bother me, Sandy Badger. ]
want to do this job quick and well. Go way,
and femme alone"
"You needn't be SO tetchy, Job. Iguess a
fellow might watch you. Seem you handle
the Ratchet SO cleverly put me in mind OF
the great cavalry fight I've heard you tell
of. Which was ita"
Any ~provocation to talk about his service
in the war was SURE to draw Job out, as his
cunning tempter well knew.
"Don't know. Might have been Brandy
Station; might have been Yellow Tavern.
Both big fights"
"Was you in both of 'em, Jobs"
eyes, indeed; and in a dozen other small
er ones"
(which licked in those twor'
"We did at the Tavern; t. other one they
called a kind Of q draw"
So the talk went IN until the turkey was
cleaned and dressed. Holding it up by the
leg, Harkins said: l.
"Now, ain that a beauty! More N twenty
pounds dressed, I really believe"
'Splendid!" said Sandy. $50 now you're
done. Job, tell us who commanded there at
Brandy2"
General Pleasanton, Of course.n
sighting GineralW
1You bet,' said the veteran, with enthu-
siasm. 9
g Job-let's drink his health"
Mr.. Badgerproduced a square flask. JOB
hesitated.
" I don't want to-"
whats the odds2 Your work is all
done. You amt going back on your old
commander, be you2"
The argument was irresistible. Job
drank.
He was a lost man from that moment
His tongue was loosed; he talked and
drank, and drank again. The crafty rascal
piled him with the fiery stuff, merely MAX
ing a pretense Of drinking himself. Hepro-
posed the health Of General Sheridan, and
Job enthusiastically drank it. He drank to
the Army Of the Potomac to his Colonel; to
his Captain; to the old fighting st Mas
sachusetts Cavalry. Near dark the Deacon
sternation at the sight. Job Harkns was
leaning against the fence in a maudlin con-
sdition; the hot water was overturned,
Ratchet and knives were scattered on the
ground.
"Where is the turkeys' demanded the
irate proprietor.
Fact is, Deacon, = said Job, with drunken
dignity" when (hicl / got him dressed, he
(hic) few away
The Deacon drove Job from the yard.
II. FINDING II.
Deacon Cleghorn was greatly angered by
this untoWard incident. He knew enough
about the badLset, who, failing to buy the
coveted turkey, had stolen it, to be sure
that they would hide it beyond reach Of a
search warrant. Christmas was rapidly APP
preaching, and his main preparations were
yet to be made. To his dismay he discov-
cred that he could purchase no kind Of q
turkey. Never was Christmas d extern
sively prepared for il that vicinity as in
that Centennial year. There was nothing
like fowl to spare, even to- Deacon Cleghorn.
He went home and reported the case TOT
full domestic council.
20, what mn we dor said Mrs Cleghorn,
swTinging her hands.
.And to think that Captain Bradstreet
viii be here to morrow IS pretty Sally
spouted.